UK online retail goes from strength to strength

UK based online retailers have reportedly fared better than any other country in Europe. Over the entire course of last year, online sales made up roughly 10% of the overall retail total.

The survey, conducted by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), suggests that consumers in the UK spent around £38 billion over the course of 2009.

The CRR expects to see online sales reach in excess of £42 billion over the course of 2010. Sector speculation suggests that an online offering will become increasingly more important for the more conventional, high-street retailers, who will need to take extra measures to keep up with the growth in eCommerce and customer demand.

The Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) reported that online retail reached maturity over the festive season in 2009 with a huge £5.46 billion spent online in December alone. This is compounded in further reports that suggest 50% of UK consumers did all of their Christmas shopping online.

The Director of Operations at IMRG, David Smith, has speculated that by 2020 over 90% of all purchases will be made online as consumers are given more ways to access the internet.

Mr Smith commented:

"That could be through mobile applications, it could be through websites, PCs and laptops, or it could be through other devices in the home."